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H.R. 2982House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Women Veterans Health Care Accountability Act

Sponsored by Joe CunninghamRep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC)
Introduced May 23, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:42 AM UTC

The Women Veterans Health Care Accountability Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a thorough study of the obstacles women veterans face when trying to obtain VA health services. The study will survey a large, statistically significant sample of women veterans, analyze a wide range of potential barriers, and report the findings and recommendations to Congress within 30 months.

Key Provisions

  • The VA Secretary must carry out a comprehensive study that includes surveys of both women veterans who use VA health care and those who do not.
  • The survey must be representative of each Veterans Integrated Service Network and larger than previous studies.
  • The study must build on earlier VA research from 2007‑2008 and 2015.
  • It must examine factors such as mental‑health stigma, travel distance, child‑care availability, clinic types, understanding of eligibility, safety perceptions, provider gender sensitivity, outreach effectiveness, facility locations and hours, and any other significant barriers.
  • An independent qualified organization will be contracted to conduct the study.
  • Heads of the VA Center for Women Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans must review the results and submit findings to the Under Secretary for Health.
  • A report with findings and recommendations must be submitted to Congress no later than 30 months after the law takes effect.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Health Subcommittee

September 11, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 23, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

June 13, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Health Subcommittee

September 11, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 23, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2982

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 23, 2019

Mr. Cunningham (for himself and Mrs. Murphy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study of the barriers for women veterans to health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Women Veterans Health Care Accountability Act.

2.

Study of barriers for women veterans to health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

Study required

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a comprehensive study of the barriers to the provision of comprehensive health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs encountered by women who are veterans. In conducting the study, the Secretary shall—

(1)

survey women veterans who seek or receive hospital care or medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as women veterans who do not seek or receive such care or services;

(2)

administer the survey to a representative sample of women veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network; and

(3)

ensure that the sample of women veterans surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to be statistically significant and is a larger sample than that of the study referred to in subsection (b)(1).

(b)

Use of previous studies

In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall build on the work of the studies of the Department of Veterans Affairs titled—

(1)

National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007–2008; and

(2)

Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to VA Health Care 2015.

(c)

Elements of study

In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct research on the effects of the following on the women veterans surveyed in the study:

(1)

The perceived stigma associated with seeking mental health care services.

(2)

The effect of driving distance or availability of other forms of transportation to the nearest medical facility on access to care.

(3)

The availability of child care.

(4)

The acceptability of integrated primary care, women’s health clinics, or both.

(5)

The comprehension of eligibility requirements for, and the scope of services available under, hospital care and medical services.

(6)

The perception of personal safety and comfort in inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health facilities.

(7)

The gender sensitivity of health care providers and staff to issues that particularly affect women.

(8)

The effectiveness of outreach for health care services available to women veterans.

(9)

The location and operating hours of health care facilities that provide services to women veterans.

(10)

Such other significant barriers as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(d)

Discharge by contract

The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to carry out the study and research required under this section.

(e)

Mandatory review of data by certain department divisions

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall ensure that the head of each division of the Department of Veterans Affairs specified in paragraph (2) reviews the results of the study conducted under this section. The head of each such division shall submit findings with respect to the study to the Under Secretary for responsibilities relating to health care services for women veterans.

(2)

Specified divisions

The divisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs specified in this paragraph are the following:

(A)

The Center for Women Veterans established under section 318 of title 38, United States Code.

(B)

The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established under section 542 of such title.

(f)

Report

Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study required under this section. The report shall include recommendations for such administrative and legislative action as the Secretary considers appropriate. The report shall also include the findings of the head of each division of the Department specified under subsection (e)(2) and of the Under Secretary for Health.